Traditional Filipino Games

• Games are often associated with childhood memories, happiness, and enjoyment
• Games are a common leisure activity, even for adults at parties
• The module explores traditional Filipino games played both indoors and outdoors, inviting reminiscence of childhood experiences

Key Terms Defined

• Game: A competitive form of play governed by rules based on skill, strength, or luck
• Game Materials: The physical components necessary to play a game
• Game Mechanics: The procedures and guidelines that dictate how a game is played
• Game Rules: The statements and/or directions that must be adhered to in order to correctly play a game, agreed upon by all players
• Traditional Games: Activities with satire, intelligence, and mobility found in folk culture, played collectively by children

Bahay-Bahayan (Indoor)

• Also known as "balay-balay" in Bisaya, translates to "home simulation"
• It is a group game simulating a family setup, where children take on roles like father, mother, and children
• A child may be assigned or volunteer as the family pet
• Materials include banana leaves, coconut fronds, sticks, stones, pebbles, candy wrappers or bubble gums as "money"
• Play involves building a house in a porch or open field and imitating real family activities
• The game continues until the players lose interest

Bahay Kubo (Indoor)

• A hand-clapping game involving four people
• No materials are needed
• Players are divided into two pairs, facing each other, and perform a hand-clapping routine while singing the "Bahay Kubo" song
• Pairs exchange routines during the song (facing each other, left, right, above, and below the other pair)
• Committing a mistake results in a consequence; play continues until a score is reached or boredom sets in
• "Bahay-kubo, kahit munti, Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari, Singkamas at talong, Sigarilyas at mani, Sitaw, bataw, patani. Kundol, patola, upoʼt kalabasa At tsaka mayro'n pang, Labanos, mustasa Sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya Sa paligid ligid ay puno ng linga.”

Dampa (Indoor)

• It is a rubber band game where the bands, or lastiko, are moved using compressed air made by hitting the ground with hands
• Minimum of two players on any flat surface
• The goal is to move a rubber band forward from a line
• Materials include rubber bands and chalk or charcoal for marking the starting line
• Players take turns moving rubber bands, aiming to dislodge an odd number from a pile
• Losing a turn occurs when an even number is displaced
• The objective is to move an odd number of bands beyond the line to win them
• Moving an even number results in the opponent taking the bands
• Skill, patience, arm strength, and courtesy are all developed in dampa
• The player with the most lastiko wins when there are none left

Jack En Poy (Indoor)

• Children taunt in the Philippines when playing this game with the phrase "Jack en Poy, hali-hali hoy! sinong matalo siya’ng unggoy,” meaning the loser is the monkey
• No materials are needed
• Two players simultaneously form a fist and reveal either rock, paper, or scissors
• Losers are teased as the "monkey"
• The same symbol selection by both players, leads to no winner for that round
• Rock breaks scissors, scissors cuts paper, and paper covers rock, determining the round winner

Jackstone (Indoor)

• It is a popular traditional Filipino game, also known as "jacks"
• Materials include ten jacks or small stones/pebbles and a small bouncy ball
• Players scatter the jacks, toss the ball, pick up a jack, and catch the ball before it bounces twice
• Players continue until a foul is committed
• The person or team with the most points wins

Nanay-Tatay (Indoor)

• It is traditional hand-clapping Filipino game translating to "Mother, Father"
• No materials are needed
• Two or more players clap and chant, with the number of claps corresponding to the count in the chant
• The chant is as follows: “Nanay, tatay gusto kong tinapay, Ate, kuya gusto kong kape, Lahat ng gusto ko ay susundin niyo, Ang magkamali ay pipingutin ko, Isa, Isa, dalawa, Isa, dalawa, tatlo, Isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, Isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima....Etc...”
• Making a mistake results in being pinched and the game continuing until boredom is reached

Pitik Bulag (Indoor)

• It is a hand game played by two people
• No materials are needed
• A player covers their eyes while the other flicks a finger (pitik or latik) on their hand
• The player with covered eyes guesses a number with their hand
• If numbers match, roles switch. A variation involves guessing which finger was used to flick
• Played until a score is reached or boredom sets in

POGS (Indoor)

• Named after a passionfruit, orange, and guava juice brand, POG
• Materials include flat, circular cardboard discs decorated with images
• Each player contributes pogs to a face-down stack
• Players take turns throwing their "tarap" (chosen pog) at the stack
• Each throw spreads the stack
• Players keep face-up pogs
• Pogs are restacked after each throw
• The player with the most pogs wins when none remain in the stack

Sawsaw Suka (Indoor)

• This game's name translates to "dip into vinegar"
• No materials are needed
• A designated player or taya opens a palm upward like a bowl
• Other players touch the taya's palm with an index finger while chanting "Sawsaw-suka, mahuli taya!"
• A player will raise their fingers in pace with the chant
• The taya tries to catch the other players' fingers at the end of the chant
• The player whose finger is caught becomes the new taya
• The above is repeated until boredom occurs

Takipsilim (Indoor)

• Also known as "twilight game" or "take-cover game."
• Material needed: Handkerchief or cloth.
• Players hide by stepping on couches, under tables, or behind curtains
• One blindfolded player turns three times then searches as the "it", listening for hints
• The others may make sounds or touch/tickle the "it" while trying not to be tagged
• The chaser then trades places with the person tagged
• The game continues until the players' are bored

Agawan Base (Outdoor)

• Literally "capturing base," played by two teams with at least 3 players on a beach setting
• Markers, such as trees, chairs, or slippers, designate bases
• The goal is to touch the opponent's base before being tagged, or to capture opponents
• Captives are freed by teammates
• Smaller games involve directly tapping, while larger games strategize captures
• Stealing the base wins, or capturing all opponents requires taking the base from its guard

Buwan-Buwan (Outdoor)

• A traditional enactment of a lunar eclipse
• Needed is something to draw the circle
• Players draw a circle on the ground representing the moon, and must stay inside
• One player becomes the Bakunawa who is a mythical sea serpent, and must touch inside players to trade place, but cannot enter the circle
• Until the players are bored, the game continues

Chinese Garter (Outdoor)

• Also called "Chinese Jump Rope," using a rubber band, garter, or rope
• Originated in China during the 7th century and was played before Chinese New Year
• Garter or rubber is needed
• Two teams with at least two players each, stand in from each other with the garter stretched
• Players must jump without tripping
• Elimination occurs when tripping, so you will now be holding the garter
• The player able to complete jumping routines through the levels wins

Culliot (Outdoor)

• Tug of war, involves teams trying to pull an opponent across a borderline
• Needs a 15m long, 3cm diameter rope
• Players should be equal, and the distance between the team is 5 meters
• Each player should tie the ends around the last player on the waist
• The teams will pull once ready
• The winners are the team that pulls the opponents across the line

Holen (Outdoor)

• Also known as jolen and played in the Visayan region, designed to develop accuracy
• Includes marbles, chalk or stick
• The player agreed number of marbles goes in the center, and a line is drawn
• The player then throws an object onto the line
• When all marbles is gone from inside the circle, the player that had the highest amount of marbles is granted the winner

Kadang-kadang (Outdoor)

• Also called "Karang-karang", means simple play
• Is a game where bamboo are utilized
• You need 4 pieces of bamboo or wood, with foot stepladders of equal heights
• Should traverse a 100 meter course, marked at 25 meters
• One stands along with the stilts on the first player of each team, and 25 meter mark for the second player, the 50th mark for the third, and the last on the 75th
• On the "Get Set" stand with stilts, with the signal "Go", mount and begin to walk

Langit-Lupa (Outdoor)

• The name translates to heaven and earth
• The only material is you
• In order to chose "It" or Taya, they point while singing a song to the players
• An example of the song used to sing, translated: Heaven, earth, hell, hell- hell pierce the heart dripping blood Dead, Alive, Get out of your stinking place!
• The Taya goes after players who are allowed to stand on level ground and over objects
• Getting tagged by the Taya will result in you being the new one

Luksong Baka (Outdoor)

• Originated in Bulacan, it requires players to jump over the “baka” (cow), also called the taya or “it"
• There are no materials required to play this game
• All players will put they’re hands facing downwards over one another, in terms of choosing "Baka"
• The person showcasing the opposite position is the one who plays as the "baka"
• Then assumes jumping position
• The jumpers must then spread they’re legs so that they do not hit with the baka's body
• The baka gradually raises its position
• Hitting it will cause you to swap positions
• Players can maintain balance by using their hands

Luksong Tinik (Outdoor)

• "Jumping over thorns," with two teams
• Two players on the base puts a foot forward while doing foot contact with the other player
• the goal is to jump and not hit
• The person should then provide a hand, and put it palms up
• A "fault' is caused if one hits the others hands

Patintero (Outdoor)

• Involves two groups to split outside
• Some chalk has to be used
• To chose, a toss will be used
• The person should pass, from the start to back with out getting tagged
• The person needs to always walk with their feet on the line
• Switch of roles is acquired if the person gets touched

Tumbang Preso (Outdoor)

• Also known as "Tumba Lata" or "Bato Lata" usually in streets or small backyards
• Materials should include Empty can, flip flops and chalk
• One needs to stand directly where the can is places on
• Needs to hit with a slipper which will cause it to move from the toe line
• Once tagged, is required to retreive back the pamato
• Then they must place it directly into the circle or their gonna be the new taya
• Others needs to get the pamato, since the hitter can get tagged if there out the line
• After hitters all get out, the can will be then kicked
• And a chase then begins